Lever Action .22

[Steve Milbocker]

Thanks for the heads up (get it?).

If you mean the straighter stock will make you shoot more heads up...yes

Is the drop built in the stock or the receiver ? If only built in the stock, could it be replaced with the stock from the

I can’t say for sure but looking at DMs pictures I’d say it’s in the receiver. The tang on a GB is quite long.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/golden-boy-vs-regular-22.183833/

This is a pretty good thread on the differences in the Henrys

 

[SwampWolf]

They are not the only ones to have used the Zink alloy in their firearms.

You're right about that. The esteemed Jennings and Raven pistols come to mind.

 

[SwampWolf]

I had a BL-22 one time and it had the worst trigger I've ever had on any rifle or handgun.

Couldn't be much worse than the trigger on a Model 39 that I purchased new in 1997-but I still love the gun!

 

[SwampWolf]

Yes sir, in 1964 dollars the Marlin 39A was $89.95 and in 2022 dollars that calculates to $863.84. Not sure about your family but in 1964 $89.95 was a bunch of money.

But the real point that I think crestoncowboy was trying to make is that the much cheaper to make Winchester Model 290 was selling for only fifteen dollars less than the Model 39. How much would $75.95 translate in today's money? And who today, in their right mind, would ever pay that price for a stamped-out .22 auto? Given what's out there today in terms of a reliable, lever-action rifle having forged steel parts, a walnut stock and a superior finish, the Model 39 would be a bargain at $863.84.

 

[SwampWolf]

Marlin would be good, if they bring back the 39. Which brings up the question, who wants to wait?

Buy used.

 

[DMW1116]

I only have one 22 lever action, a Henry Golden Boy. Good lumber and blueing, excellent wood to metal fit. 1000s of rounds with nary a hiccup. I thought enough of it to have an MVA vernier sight installed and a trigger job done on it. No problem ringing the 8” dinger at 200 yards. Do I wish it didn’t have a zmack receiver... yup but It sure as hell ain’t junk. View attachment 1123202

That’s a nice setup. Any idea how far that sight will let you go, say with standard velocity ammo? I have some more practice sessions planned with my Henry but ultimately I think it will either get sold or end up with aperture sights.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

That’s a nice setup. Any idea how far that sight will let you go, say with standard velocity ammo? I have some more practice sessions planned with my Henry but ultimately I think it will either get sold or end up with aperture sights.

This Is the #130 MVA sight. Other models have taller masts and could get you more range. This is my 200 yard setting so maybe 300? I haven’t tried it any farther than 200.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

These guys are amazing. I used to correspond with Wind. That’s how I came to use the MVA sights. Here is some great shooting with the Marlin 39

 

[Speedo66]

When I got my first rifle as a kid in the early '60's, I of course was interested in the 39A.

I wound up with a Marlin 80DL, a detachable magazine .22 bolt action with an adjustable peep sight, actually better suited for my purposes as a target gun.

That gun was a little less than $40 at the time, the 39A was about 125% more, so even then the 39A was a very pricey gun and well out of my price range.

I belonged to a jr. rifle club in Queens where I shot, a 50' underground range. One kid did have a Golden 39, which despite my knowing I had the better gun for target shooting, I still lusted heavily for.

 

[jdsingleshot]

I had two Ithacas that I got free. They were almost worth what I paid. Combined parts to get one that worked about half the time. A very nice design that Zamak did not stand up too. They would have been wonderful in steel.

 

[Speedo66]

I had two Ithacas that I got free. They were almost worth what I paid. Combined parts to get one that worked about half the time. A very nice design that Zamak did not stand up too. They would have been wonderful in steel.

Would those have been Ithaca 49 Saddleguns? They sold for $20 when introduced in 1960, so not exactly a pricey gun, but currently trading in the $300 range. A single shot falling block design masquerading as a tube feed lever action.

Oleg Volk wrote a review of them: https://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/08/04/ithaca-m49-saddlegun-junk-treasure/

 

[crestoncowboy]

Would those have been Ithaca 49 Saddleguns? They sold for $20 when introduced in 1960, so not exactly a pricey gun, but currently trading in the $300 range. A single shot falling block design masquerading as a tube feed lever action.

Oleg Volk wrote a review of them: https://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/08/04/ithaca-m49-saddlegun-junk-treasure/

More likely the 72

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Have the Browning and like it------------------------ had a Marlin around 2006 and didn't care for it--mainly the weight------------ should have bought a Winchester in .22mag when they still made them.

 

[Speedo66]

More likely the 72

Okay, that was the one actually made by ERMA in Germany for Ithaca, and morphed into the Henry H001 model after Henry bought the rights.

That would make sense since Henry seems to love Zamac.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Yeah. The 71 or 712 Erma was designed by louis imperato (Anthony's father) for Erma . Licensed to and built for Ithaca as a 72 and iver Johnson as the wagonmaster. (they even said Erma west Germany on them). The only difference was the lever/lifter adjustment screw was absent on the 72 and iver. Then when Imperato (Anthony and his father Louis) started "Henry" ( a name of a designer from 100 years prior that had absolutely nothing to do with "Henry arms" company....dirty in my book) he bought back his design and changed very little making the H001 Henry.

 

[Milt1]

I bought one of the Ithaca 49 saddle guns when I was in the Air Force stationed in Great Falls, Mt in the early 60's. I sent it home to my little brother in N.C. He loved it and I need to ask him now what happened to it? I'd forgotten about it until this post and yes it did cost $20.00.

 

[DM~]

Were the originals Zamac or actually pot metal?

Zamac is an "allow", NOT pot metal... My H001 is holding up perfectly...

DM

 

[hawg]

I too have been wanting a lever 22. My Henry Pump was a big letdown so they’re out of the running.

The Henry Pump is a redesigned lever action so it's a little rough. The action on a Henry Golden Boy is slicker than snot on a porcelain doorknob. I assume the H001 is the same.

 

[DM~]

The Henry Pump is a redesigned lever action so it's a little rough. The action on a Henry Golden Boy is slicker than snot on a porcelain doorknob. I assume the H001 is the same.

Rough, I call them junk, at least mine was...

Henry lever rimfires are GREAT rifles, at least everyone I've had in my hands, worked smooth, fed everything I put in them, in any order and were accurate, that's all I can ask for in any rifle...

DM

 

[Picher]

I had a Deluxe Marlin 39A that had some flaws that drove me to get rid of it. The receiver top was about 10 degrees off square with the receiver sides. It failed to eject often, requiring me to pry empties out. Front sight was a little crooked. It's been a while since getting rid of it, so I've (thankfully) forgotten other flaws. Too bad...it was such a handy little rifle and it had good weight for offhand shooting.

 

[Y-T71]

I didn't necessarily have the $ to buy a 39 outright; I want to say they got expensive but, that's always been the case IMO.

I traded into this 39 made in '52.

My son and I would sit in the evenings and watch old Clint Eastwood westerns, so, when one popped up at a gunshow I had some trading fodder to make a deal on this one.

It's not 'mint but it is in really nice shape definitely worth my trade; Springfield XSsc .40.

Its been a fantastic rifle, and I'd make the trade all week long and twice on Sunday.



BTW, he's grown up quite a bit since then.

Drive, and working and the rifle fits him perfectly now!

 

[codytrucker]

In my mind the Henry is a perfectly fine utility grade .22 rifle. Comparable to a model 60 Marlin , Ruger 10/22 ( in stock form ) or any number of Savage , Mossberg and sundry other .22 rifles .

It is not an heirloom grade rifle like the Marlin , Winchester and Browning that are comparable to CZ , Tikka , Remington 541 , and various other premium grade rifles that sell at a much higher price point , and really shouldn't be compared with them .

The only thing it has in common is that its lever action . And that's fine , Nobody expects a M60 marlin to come from the factory comparable to a Weatherby xx11 , nor a Glennfield M20 to a CZ 527 . Take it for what it is ,use it and have fun, just don't expect to get a Cadillac for a Kia price and you wont be disappointed .

 

[codytrucker]

I agree, guns mostly are expensive and feeding them can be even more so . The 1022 was introduced in 1964 and I think from what little I can find the MSRP was $54. The price in that advertisement for the Marlin 39A was likely not MSRP but street price? The little 1022 would be $515 today for a $349 difference equivilent! I remembered I found this image somewhere:

View attachment 1123161

Guns are usually discounted about 10% of MSRP but not always. Well, nowadays it is sometimes MSRP+ .

Those prices for a model 39 are probably really close to the price of a 336 or 94 Winchester .30-30

 

[CraigC]

Were the originals Zamac or actually pot metal?

Zamac is an "allow", NOT pot metal... My H001 is holding up perfectly...

DM

Zinc based alloys are commonly referred to as "pot metal". ZAMAK is a zinc based alloy. Zinc is used because it's "strong enough", cheap to procure and cheap to manipulate. Die casting zinc is far less expensive than investment casting steel or aluminum. Not all cheap guns are zinc but all zinc guns are cheap. It may work fine for 100,000rds, it may go tits up as quickly as mine did but it will always have that stigma attached to it.